For the last 45 years,
Delhi’s Shriram Bhartiya Kala Kendra’s name has become synonymous with
the enacting of the annual Ramlila - a ballet based on the epic
Ramayana. Every year there are newer interpretations and efforts on
the part of the organizers to make it more contemporary. "The basic
idea behind these changes was to make the dance-drama contemporary and to
convey the real meaning of the epic to a larger section of the
audience", says, Shobha Deepak Singh, production director and
vice-chairperson of the Shriram Bharatiya Kala Kendra.

This year, for the first
time since it began in 1956, the language has been changed from Avadhi to
Hindi - so that the message of the epic can reach a wider audience.

Some of our best-known epics are replete
with stories of valour and courage. Most Indians identify with tales that
come with large dollops of religion and morality. Leading the way are
Ramayana and Mahabharata, which even after thousands of years are still
close to people's heart, as because they are relevant even today.

The skillfully interwoven plot of a series
of extraordinary events and episodes crammed with adventure and excitement
in the form of battles, abduction, deceit, love, faithfulness makes these
epics everlasting and eternal.

Ramayana has stood the test of time. It's a
tale which has been told and enacted year after year during Dussehra
celebrations all over the country. The tale of good triumphing over evil
is performed in a myriad of ways. In many places, the text is chanted in
temples in a singsong manner. In other settings, it is enacted live on
stage. At times, it is read aloud and actors mime the actions. And yet,
another way is to perform it in the dance drama style.

For the last 45 years, Delhi’s Shriram
Bhartiya Kala Kendra’s name has become synonymous with dance drama. And
over the years, it has built a great following of people who return, year
after year, to view this spiritual and cultural extravaganza time and
again.

What sets this Ramlila apart from
the thousands of others being staged around India is that it relies on an
excellent script. Every year there are newer new interpretations and
efforts of the part of the organizers to make it more contemporary to hold
the audience interest.

This year, for the first time since it
began in 1956, the language has been changed from Avadhi to Hindi, so that
the message of Lord Ram can reach every nook and corner of the country.
The title of the dance-drama has also been changed from simple Ramayana
to Ram-A Paragon of Exemplary Values.